Sunday March 13, 2022 | SOOKE, BC
by Mary P Brooke | Island Social Trends
The beautiful brand new Sooke Library at 6671 Wadams Way has been open for business since the third week of February.
But the official grand opening expected this coming week has been postponed. [VIRL news releases | VIRL strike updates]
The new Sooke Library grand opening date will be announced on the Vancouver Island Regional Library site in the coming days.
Librarians on strike:
The Vancouver Island Regional Library (VIRL) has been dealing with BCGEU Local 702 negotiations. Wage levels and recognition of additional loads during the pandemic are key issues on the table.
A few offers have already gone back and forth. But now with the grand opening postponed, it’s clear that VIRL leadership needs to focus on the bigger picture for now.
There are 48 librarians working in the VIRL system, of which 43 are permanent and the others part-time. On March 2 job action could begin. Librarians wore buttons.
On March 9 there was a picket line at the Cowichan Branch in Duncan. On March 13 there was a picket line at the Chemanius branch. On March 14 the picket line is expected at the branch in Ladysmith.
Long-awaited Sooke grand opening:
The Sooke Library was in a leased space on Anna Marie Road in Sooke for over a decade while the new larger Sooke Library facility was planned, designed, and constructed.
There were many local and inter-organizational issues between the District of Sooke and the VIRL board, from about 2009 until construction finally got underway in October 2020.
The new Sooke Library opened in the week of February 21, 2022 (after BC Family Day) for public use.
===== ABOUT THE WRITER:
Island Social Trends Editor Mary P Brooke has been following the development of the Sooke Library since 2009. She attended many community open houses hosted by the Vancouver Island Regional Library (VIRL) over the years, as well as the on-site construction tour in June 2021.
Island Social Trends was previously West Shore Voice News (2014-2020), and before that Sooke Voice News (2011-2013) and MapleLine Magazine (2008-2010).
===== LINKS:
===== RELATED:
VIRL offer to Local 702 librarians includes non-monetary provisions (March 4, 2022)
Vancouver Island librarians going on strike (February 28, 2022)
New Sooke Library set to open after Family Day 2022 (February 10, 2022)
Sooke Library now open for computer use, DVDs, takeout, reference (Nov 18, 2020)
Sooke Library construction gets underway mid-October (Oct 19, 2020)
Survey about new Sooke Library open to Nov 30 (Oct 8, 2020)
New day for Sooke: library construction to begin (Sept 22, 2020)
Sooke Library programs in January 2020 (Jan 1, 2020)
Sooke Library development dealing with permit hurdle (June 15, 2019)
